Trying to start my 351wbut am having a problem, the engine is rebuilt (jasper) with a mild cam. It has a new starter and a new battery(850 cold crank amps) but the engine seems to turn over at half or less of the speed needed to be normal and to start. It as if the battery was weak but it is brand new. Any ideas?

 

starter, bad ground,

new engine starts are tough.. did you prime the oil pump?

Sm

 

On top of what Sam said, a series of volt-meter checks should tell you if there's enough juice to the starter or not....battery, cables, solenoid, etc...

 

If your timing is set too far advanced, it can cause hard turn over, too.

 

A common problem I run across is having the distributor 180 degrees off. just a thought. and I always squirt a LITTLE oil in the cylinders on a fresh start, crankin it over a few spins without the plugs in. then put the plugs in and proceed. along with the oil priming of the pump as stated above. theres my 2.5 cents worth...the extra half is the surcharge for the price of fuel...

 

good one, I had forgotten that.. prime the oil pump, seat the distro, pull the plugs and a good squirt and a few spins..

sam

 

Easy way to eliminate timing...pull the coil wire out of the distro cap and then crank it over. If it cranks at the speed you expect then the timing is at issue...if not, then there is another problem. With the plugs removed you should be able to turn the engine over fairly easily, if that's not the case then I would be on the phone with Jasper.

 

just so you guys will know (and thanks for the point in the right direction), it was a problem with the ground. I had grounded the battery to the frame and the engine to the firewall. Not good enough, now the battery is grounded directly to the bell housing.

 

Good news! I wish I had a nickel for every grounding problem I have run into...I'd be rich.